VietNamNet Bridge – The Tran Thuong Temple Festival in the northern province of Ha Nam was launched on Sunday night with the participation of thousands of pilgrims.

The temple was built in honour of famous Vietnamese general Tran Hung Dao (1228-1300) and soldiers who made great contributions in the fight against the invading Mongols during the 13th century.

The general established a granary for the army during the conflict where the Tran Thuong Temple is now located.

Each year as part of the festival local residents organise food distribution ceremonies at the beginning of the lunar new year to commemorate the general's achievements and to educate younger generations about the importance of saving and stockpiling food for emergencies.

Locals and pilgrims from other regions flock to the festival to receive food parcels as a lucky charm for the new year. The small portions symbolise the wish for a peaceful and prosperous life.

Vice-president Nguyen Thi Doan joined other Government leaders at the temple on Sunday. Although the food-distributing ceremony, the festival's main activity, took place on Sunday, many visitors from different localities came to the temple several days ago to attend cultural activities and folk games.

This year, 80,000 parcels were distributed in 21 areas surrounding the temple by elders in traditional costumes.

The Tran Temple Festival, another festival commemorating Tran Hung Dao and the brilliant feat of arms of the Tran dynasty, was also opened on Sunday night in the northern province of Nam Dinh.

This is the first year the annual festival is organised in a new way to improve public order at the temple, where a scrabble for papers stamped with the holy royal seal led to stampedes in previous years.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News